Woman found on Tram Road likely died of gunshot wound

Updated 4:17 pm, Monday, April 22, 2013

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office investigators look for evidence on a hunting lease where a woman's body was found 5 p.m. Friday, April 19.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise (via Twitter)

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office investigators look for evidence on a hunting lease where a woman's body was found 5 p.m. Friday, April 19.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise (via Twitter)

Photo: BE

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Officials investigate the scene where the body of a woman was found on a hunting lease on Tram Road Friday evening. The body was found by the lease owner after noticing an open gate.
Photo taken Friday, April 19, 2013
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise less

Officials investigate the scene where the body of a woman was found on a hunting lease on Tram Road Friday evening. The body was found by the lease owner after noticing an open gate.
Photo taken Friday, April ... more

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Woman found on Tram Road likely died of gunshot wound

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The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office believes that the woman whose body was found on a hunting lease off Tram Road Friday night died from a gunshot wound, but the office is reluctant to release further details because investigators still haven't made an identification.

An autopsy was conducted Monday morning, and investigators are still sifting through evidence, according to a sheriff's office spokesperson. But without the woman's identification, there is not much the office can do to solve the crime, said Capt. Tony McMilian.

A new, more accurate sketch of the victim is expected to be released this morning.

No missing persons reports have been filed that fit the woman's description. Deputy Chief Zena Stephens described the woman as a black female between 40-50 years old with distinctive, "jagged" teeth that had a significant gap and "pronounced overbite." The woman was about 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed 300 pounds and was wearing a pink terry cloth robe. Freckles dotted her cheeks below her eyes, and she wore a ring on each ring finger. Her fingers and toenails were painted maroon or burgundy.

Investigators said the woman's body had not been on the hunting lease very long before a property owner discovered her Friday night.

The man told the sheriff's office that he noticed the gate to his property was open as he drove by around 5 p.m.

He found the woman's body after a short drive onto the property.

If anyone has any information about this crime or knows of a missing individual who may match the victim's description, please contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office at 409-835-8411 or Beaumont Crime Stoppers at 409-833-TIPS. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case, and all tips remain anonymous.BCrum@BeaumontEnterprise.com